FM Liberman calls for boycott of Israeli Arab businesses who strike for Gaza

"Again, the Foreign Minister that is supposed to be the face of the state of Israel is showing his racist ugly face,” Meretz party head responds.

Zehava Gal-On 370.
(photo credit:Courtesy Meretz)

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman called on Monday for a boycott of Arab businesses taking part in a general strike supporting Palestinians in Gaza and condemning Operation Protective Edge.

United Arab List-Ta’al MK Ahmed Tibi told The Jerusalem Post that “again the right-wing fascist politician calls on the public not to buy from the minority, but this time he is not German or Polish. This time he is an Israeli. A racist that has no respect even for those grieving for the loss of their children.”

“This reminds me of the boycott of April 1, 1933 when [Joseph] Goebbels and his supporters cast out the Jews for the same reason,” said Tibi, referring to the Nazi boycott of Jewish shops.

Similar statements were later posted on Tibi’s Facebook page.

MK Esawi Frej (Meretz), sent a letter to Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein demanding an investigation against Liberman.

The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee called for a general strike on Monday in the Israeli Arab community.

Arab MKs also went on strike and did not come to the Knesset.

Liberman’s post on Facebook had over 8,000 likes at press time and created an immediate and harsh reaction from various MKs.

Meretz party head MK Zehava Gal-On responded to Liberman saying: “Again, the foreign minister that is supposed to be the face of the State of Israel is showing his racist ugly face.”

“The Arab citizens of Israel have the right, like any other citizen, to express their solidarity with their brethren suffering in Gaza,” she said, adding that Liberman is a “serial pyromaniac, who once again is trying to light a fire.”